Danish Minister: ‘Ramadan is Dangerous for All of Us’

Rabat- Denmark’s anti-immigrant Minister of Immigration, Integration, and Housing Inger Stojberg said Monday that Muslims in Denmark should take leave from work while fasting for Ramadan because it’s dangerous for the rest of Danish people.

Rabat- Denmark’s anti-immigrant Minister of Immigration, Integration, and Housing Inger Stojberg said Monday that Muslims in Denmark should take leave from work while fasting for Ramadan because it’s dangerous for the rest of Danish people.

Speaking to Danish newspaper BT Tabloid, Stojberg called on Muslims to stop working during Ramadan “to avoid negative consequences for the rest of Danish society.”

Known for her controversial attitude towards immigration and Islam, Stojberg questioned the compatibility of Ramadan with the modern way of life in Denmark: “I wonder if a religious order commanding observance to a 1,400-year-old pillar of Islam is compatible with the society and labour market that we have in Denmark in 2018,” she said.

Stojberg also questioned the safety and productivity of Muslim workers when they fast from dawn to sunset. Stojberg brought up the example of bus drivers who have to abstain from food and drink “for more than 10 hours,” saying “this is dangerous for all of us.”

In 2017, Stojberg posted a screenshot of her iPad background on Facebook, showing a satirical drawing of Prophet Muhammed, peace be upon him, with a bomb in his turban. The drawing was similar to the satirical caricatures of Muhammad (PBUH) which were published in Denmark in 2005, triggering outrage among Muslims across the world.

The minister’s posted the screenshot in response to the Skovgaard Museum’s decision not to include the drawing in an exhibition.

“Honestly, I think we should be proud of the Muhammad cartoons,” she said. She justified the background on her iPad screen, saying it was to remind her that Denmark’s freedom of speech also includes the freedom to criticize religion.

Stojberg is also an advocate for toughening immigration laws. Last year, she sparked more controversy on social media when she posted a photo of herself on Facebook, smiling next to a cake in celebration of Denmark’s 50th law restricting immigration.